Transforming Tilapia: Innovative Polymers from Fish By-Products

Introduction

This morning, I had a breakthrough idea: what if we could create polymers from tilapia? Utilizing by-products from tilapia processing not only aligns with sustainable practices but also opens up a world of possibilities for biodegradable and biocompatible materials. Here’s how we can turn tilapia waste into valuable polymers and the potential applications of this innovative approach.

Unveiling Polymer Precursors in Tilapia

Tilapia, like many fish, contains valuable compounds that can be transformed into polymer precursors:

• Collagen and Gelatine: Found in tilapia skin and scales, collagen can be processed into gelatine, both of which serve as excellent biopolymer precursors.
• Chitosan: Derived from chitin present in fish scales, chitosan is another promising polymer that can be sourced from tilapia.

Creating Polymers from Tilapia

Collagen and Gelatine-Based Polymers

1. Extraction: The journey begins with extracting collagen from tilapia skin and scales using acid or enzyme treatments.
2. Hydrolysis: The extracted collagen is then hydrolysed to produce…